Italy

June '06

Feature Article from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car

Castagna
Prior to World War II, many luxury cars were one-of-a-kind creations. Chassis and engines were purchased at the factory, and afterwards a coachbuilder was hired to add the bodywork. A coupe, a sedan, a convertible, or whatever else the wealthy owner might decide he/she wanted was there for the asking--as long as the checks cleared. Fast forward to 2006, and the era of the coachbuilder seems as quaint as horse-drawn buggies, hoop skirts, and 8-track players. But judging from the number of hyper-car creators cropping up--Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Pagani, Tramontana--it does not seem that the reason for this is a lack of wealthy clients, those who want something outrageously expensive and completely their own. Castagna Milano hopes to revive the coachbuilt tradition, and they have already created several 21st century examples. The silliest, cheapest (relatively speaking) and all around most fun are the firm's Mini variants, one of which is called the Crossup. This little fellow looks like a marriage of Mini and El Camino, via its tiny pickup bed aft of the rear seats. Inside is what Castagna calls the "Vodka-Cigar mini fridge" situated between the front seats. According to Castagna, a flick of the 'Vodka' button allows small bottles of vodka or champagne to be chilled. A push of the 'Cigar' button turns the fridge into a humidor. Did they O.K. this with the lawyers? At the Geneva auto show the gargantuan--and non-running--Imperial Landaulet luxury car made a dramatic debut. Castagna calls this behemoth a blend of a coupe and MPV. Having walked around it at the show, we can vouch that it's big, imposing, and...um...did we mention it's big? Press materials quote the Imperial Landaulet as having an 800hp engine under the hood and four-wheel drive. Since the concept car did not even have an interior, we'll have to take their word for it regarding the mythical mechanicals. A much more successful attempt at creating a totally bespoke take on luxury is Castagna's Bentley Continental GT-based station wagon. Unfortunately, Castagna cannot comment on prices or production, seeing as each car is a one-off.
Fiat Sedici
For all the hordes of Americans yearning to buy a Fiat automobile in the States, here is a rather roundabout way to do just that. Contrary to rumors of its demise, Fiat is still plugging away, pulling itself out of debt, and now even has an unlikely showroom hero on its hands. The Fiat Sedici mini sport-utility vehicle is off to a strong sales start in Europe, where over 7,000 have been ordered during the model's first few weeks on the market. Sales expectations were projected at around 20,000 per year. The Sedici is available with a variety of engine and transmission combinations, including a 107hp, 1.6-liter, 16-valve, gasoline-powered four-cylinder, and 120hp, 1.9-liter, Multijet, diesel-powered four. A selectable four-wheel-drive system allows three settings to be chosen: 2WD, Auto, and Lock (full-time four-wheel drive). Still, don't expect any Sedicis to tackle the Rubicon Trail, where they risk putting creases in their handsome lines, penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign. What's important for U.S. buyers is that the Sedici is coming to the States...sort of. Suzuki and Fiat co-produce the mini-ute at an auto plant in Hungary, and the plan is for the Suzuki version--called the SX4--to arrive later this year. Forget about the diesel option right away. And pay no mind to the fact that the SX4 is going to be the basis for Suzuki's WRC race car. The engine choices are likely to be limited in both scope and horsepower. Suzuki's current four-cylinders will be used, mated to the same 4x4 hardware in the Sedici. But remember, if that punk down the street can slap 'Type R' logos on his '89 Civic, then there is no stopping you running down to your Suzuki dealer, buying an SX4, and gluing a Sedici badge on the back. Better yet, stay somewhat sane, save yourself a bundle of cash, and buy an old 850 spider convertible instead.
Hamman-tuned F430 and Gallardo
How cruel life can be. Were it not for that one blemish on your stock portfolio, or that one real estate deal gone wrong, then the shiny new Lamborghini Gallardo in your driveway could have been that much better. It could even have had--say it quietly--scissor doors. Fear not, because the German tuning firm of Hamman has turned its attention away from BMWs and Porsches and focused on the baby Lambo. About the only non-outrageous thing about the regular Gallardo is its doors because, in case you forgot, Lamborghini saves the dramatic skyward-pointing scissor type for its big brother, the Murciélago. Not anymore. Hamman can fit a pair of them to any Gallardo, along with a host of other visual improvements like a modified front spoiler, adjustable rear spoiler, 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels and sport rear muffler. Considering that Hamman also has a host of performance extras available for the Ferrari F430, it's only a matter of time 'til those dramatic doors also make their way on to one of Maranello's finest.

This article originally appeared in the June, 2006 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.